The supply of nutrients is important for our general health. Here you can find out how the supply of nutrients is linked to dementia and why it is largely dependent on chewing.
What is dementia?
People affected by dementia lose their acquired abilities and skills over time. However, dementia is not just a „memory disorder“. Dementia can result in an increasing impairment of language, attention, orientation and thinking [1]. According to an estimate by Alzheimer Europe, the number of people with dementia in Germany at the end of 2018 was around 1.5 million [2].
What causes dementia and what are the causes?
The symptoms of dementia are caused by damage to brain tissue and the death of brain cells. The main factors for developing dementia include
– Diabetes mellitus
– smoking
– Obesity
However, age and gender as well as certain inherited genetic risks are also among the causes of dementia [3].
Is there a link between chewing and dementia?
Patients forget to maintain oral hygiene, which increases the risk of dental problems. In addition, dental problems increase with age and with them the difficulty in chewing and biting food. Patients perceive eating as tiring and their enjoyment of food decreases. Patients begin to eat more one-sidedly. This in turn leads to an undersupply of nutrients [4].
Chewing promotes a healthy supply of nutrients
A good and sufficient supply of nutrients is not only important for dementia patients, but for everyone. Good chewing performance is essential in order to grind food well so that nutrients can be extracted from the food [5]. An adequate supply of nutrients contributes to maintaining good health and supports our body during an existing illness.
Simply have your chewing performance tested
Orehab Minds offers you the opportunity to check your chewing performance. The values of your chewing performance are checked using a standardised procedure and compared with standard values. This gives you an impression of your chewing performance. Various visualisations and subdivisions will give you an indication of a possible need for treatment.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Stay healthy!
Your Orehab Minds team
Bibliography
[1] Diagnosis of dementia: clinical picture and progression, in website: Federal Ministry of Health
[2] Alzheimer Europe. Yearbook 2019, Federal Statistical Office. Genesis online database. Update of the population status: Table 12411-0013
[3] Lühmann, D. Dementia, in Internet page: Stiftung-gesundheitswissen
[4] Coenegracht C., Hess F., Schaller F. Dementia: Nutritional problems, approaches to solutions and nutritional therapy measures. Swiss Journal of Nutritional Medicine 3, 2018; 6-13
[5] Staudte H., Sigusch W. Influence of masticatory function on nutrition. ZWR – The German Dental Journal 2010; 119 (3)
